The Panthers were staring down the barrel of another loss when they failed to kick a goal in the first term against one of their recent arch-rivals to trail by 36 points.

On a day when the Pigeons’ faithful farewelled favourite son, Ken “Pascoe” Ellis, who died the previous night, the Panthers were simply not in the contest in the first term as they struggled to contain livewire Yarrawonga forwards, Brad O’Connor and Jess Koopman.

The Panthers woes were compounded when Brant Dickson hobbled off with an ankle injury and took no further part in proceedings.

The start to the second term didn’t bode well either for the Panthers when Justin Koschitzke muffed a set shot from 35 metres out, but to his credit he played an important part in the turnaround which started when Sam Hargreave kicked their first goal at the six minute mark.

The Panthers began to turn the tables in the middle of the ground through Tom Hargreave and Matt Sharp and the defence led by Jono Spina and James Saker.

Koschitzke kicked his third goal for the term on the half-time siren, but O’Connor was the most productive forward at the long break with five goals for the Pigeons.

The margin was cut to 24 points and the momentum swing went further the Panthers way as they booted the first three goals of the third term to trim the margin to eight points at the 17-minute mark.

Seasoned campaigners, Matt Pendergast, Luke Garland, Kade Stevens and Adam Butler also began to lift for the Panthers, who suddenly sniffed a season reviving win.

The Pigeons regained some short-term breathing space when Brady Pritchard produced a super solo effort to restore a 14-point lead, but his goal would be the Pigeons’ last for the match as their effort fizzled out.

Adam Prior kicked the first two goals of the final quarter and when Pendergast converted with a snap, the Panthers had hit the front for the first time in the match.

Tom Yensch, who had his hands full with Pigeons’ up and comer Riley Welsh in the ruck early in the match, helped turn the tide Lavington’s way in the second half.

The Pigeons finished a disappointing match with fresh injury concerns to O’Connor (hamstring) and veteran defender Marcus McMillan (calf) and a rampant Albury looming after the inter-league bye.

Saker was impressed with his team’s turnaround from a dismal start.

“We allowed them to dictate early, but our ball usage was poor and workrate was non-existent,” he said.

“We could have gone either way, but we went the right way.”

Pigeons co-coach Chris Kennedy said the loss would sting.

"It's not often we are six goals up and lose at home,” he said.

"When you have a disappointing loss, you are just keen to get back into it and make amends.”